TheMatt

I arrived at Galileo III (unfashionably) on-time as usual at the old man hour of 5 and was quickly greeted and seated as Customer Uno (I had the place to myself until Mr Due came in about 10 minutes later.) After perusing the menu, I made my choices... First, the budino di Parmigiano. As has been said many times here, this Parmigiano Reggiano cheese pudding topped with Burrata cheese is quite amazing. Dense, creamy...mmm. Unless you are lactose intolerant, get this; at least one for the table is required. Around this time, the accompanying bread and basil(?) butter arrived was quite good, though the grissini stole the show here. I almost had to ask for seconds. Next, the ravioli verdi alla fonduta. Green ravioli filled with fonduta cheese and finished with a sage and butter sauce. I am a big big fan of sage and butter sauces on pasta (one of my few specialties) so I knew I had to get this...and was glad. It was also accented by a breaded and fried sage leaf. Chef Donna, if you want a new appetizer, please, oh please, offer a dish of these. I could have eaten 20 of them just on their own. Third was the risotto con le qualgie, the quail risotto. This wasn't quite as creamy a risotto as I've had at other places, and I think it was better for it. The notes of the quail were allowed to shine since it wasn't overpowered by tons of butter or cheese. Very good. But, then came the pièce de résistance: the branzino. As I said before, get this. Branzino cooked en papillote with potatoes, pearl onions, garlic, capers, olives...mmm. The fish was brought out still in the pouch which was opened up tableside, all removed and transferred to a platter and then a light drizzle of olive oil on top of the fish. And, oh, what a fish. Probably the best fish I've ever had. Moist, succulent, flavorful and cooked to per-fec-tion. If you are trying to decide between the veal and the lobster, get the branzino. It is just that good. Chef Donna, I salute you. Finally, on the recommendation of my waitron, I had the gianduja for dessert. Wonderful flavor and a perfect texture somewhere between gelato, mousse, sorbet...just right. In truth, I could have done without the coffee foam on it, but that's mainly because I just don't get foams. All in all, a great experience. The service was just right. Not hovering, but not distant. Bravo Chef Donna and staff!

Longer review of a great meal when I'm at a keyboard and not a phone. For now, though, I leave you with this: get the Branzino. Period. The best fish I've ever had. Prepared en papillote and then fileted at tableside so no worries about bones or anything. Remember: Branzino.

It's looking like I may not be able to bake/cook anything due to hecticness before the Big Day. If I can't make anything, I might bring an assortment of baklava from Mediterranean Bakery (walnut, cashew, pistachio). Then again, maybe I'll make some Candied Bacon as bacon is always welcome...

One question as I anticipate my visit: is there a dress code I should know about?

I made a reservation as well (Saturday at 5...yes, I'm an old man). And, amazingly, no hint of "one-top for dinner...ugh" in the voice of the woman who took my reservation. That's nice!

Welcome! Is there a type of cuisine you love or want to try? Or, perhaps, are you looking for high-end places and/or strip-mall finds?

Welp, I went to Great Wall around 8 and the cakes hadn't been restocked yet, so only the really expensive ones remained. However, just now I grabbed a banh mi for lunch at New Ben Tre and, huzzah, they had mooncakes they'd separated so you could buy in singles. So, I took the plunge and got a roasted chicken one. Figured that'd be unique!

Thanks for the advice! I'll see what I can find. I think the last time I had them I was told the flavor I was eating was white lotus, and it had that salty egg. It was a unique flavor. I didn't mind the lotus as much as I did the salty yolk. That was odd.

I have my as-often-as-I-can bloodletting at the Red Cross in Merrifield tomorrow morning and realized that Great Wall is nearby. So, I thought it'd be fun to pick up some mooncakes. My question for you, goodeats, or anyone else is what's a good price to aim for (assuming there are any mooncakes left this late)? I probably can't do the yummy-sounding ice cream ones due to my schedule that morning preventing refrigeration for a while, but the pastry-style ones are doable. My problem is that the last time I was at Great Wall there were about a zillion different brands of mooncakes with prices from a few dollars to the lucky $88.88 or the like. What is expensive enough to get a good product without being *too* expensive? I suppose brands or names would also work, but since English seemed to be nonexistent on most packages, I'd need some nice, easy characters like sun, moon, gate, tree, forest...kanji I remember from College Japanese. (Of course, the correct answer might be *none* of the packaged mooncakes at a market are worth it. Frozen ice cream or at a bakery FTW...)

Chili dogs, eh? The upcoming details intrigue me.

I guess I hadn't thought of Hee Been. When I think of buffet I think of it, but for some reason, not AYCE. How very odd. Thanks for the suggestions. I'll have some places in mind now if she wants Korean! (I suppose there is also Damoim, but I'd rather go "straight" Korean.)

I have a friend coming into town and I'm thinking I might take her to a Korean restaurant in or around Annandale because a. she's never had it before, b. she's a meat lover, and c. she's curious about it since I talk about getting it so often (yay for living near Annandale!). But, when I look at my recent dining in Annandale, I seem to go to the more specialized places--Lighthouse, Gamasot (not Annandale, but close to me), Seoul Soondae, Korean-Chinese--where I usually get the specialty of the house which isn't the "usual" Korean barbeque. I'm thinking bulgogi, pork, things like that, rather than jajangmyeon or gamjatang for her first exposure. So, I was wondering if you could provide some suggestions. In my mind I thought of Yechon, Honey Pig, and Oegadgib. I'm probably leaning to the latter as it has the BBQ (all-you-can-eat?) and, at least the last time I was there, a plethora of yummy banchan so my friend could sample all sorts of new tastes. But, I thought I'd ask the more knowledgeable ones among us if one of those would be best or if there's another place I'm just forgetting.

Chiming in with everyone else with kudos. The pizze I tried were the best I'd had in a long time, maybe ever. I can say right now that Pizzeria Orso has earned a multiple-repeat customer. So close to me, but I'd never been. I intend to rectify that!

Looking at the menu, I see that the pies are normally served unsliced. I'm wondering, though, with this many people wanting to try a bit of everything if that default should be changed for tonight? Then again, if the pie is unsliced, it's all MINE!

Ooh. Looks good. Time to study the menu, though, with as many people as are coming, I imagine one (or two) of everything will result overall! So no otto stagioni as I ask for half quattro/half quattro?

Fuel for the next pig roast?

Selfishly, I think Alexandria or Annandale would be a good place. Because, as always, proximity to TheMatt should be priority one in choosing a location.

A bit ridiculous? No, enormously so. I blanch at having to pay around $6 for imported European preserves and such. $20? For a marmalade? Ha!

As far as my schedule knows, I'm in. +0...sigh.

I'm a tentative in if it's the 31st.

Tasting menu with non-alcoholic beverage pairings? RJ, you have a reservation! Tomorrow okay? In all seriousness, big thanks from us non-drinkers. And, I guess, from Muslims, Mormons, etc. I'm so happy a chef has decided to do this!

So...any reason to come by tomorrow morning, or did the DR faithful ransack the shop today?

Wish I could help with those three, but I've never been. I'm eager to hear others' thoughts on them. (I'm a NoVAn...) I don't know if you've ruled it out yet, but I'm a big fan of Meaza in Falls Church. Great veggie platter and you can get real teff injera for a couple bucks.

After seeing the pics of the last event, I believe I might chime in. Put me down as a solo teetotaler.

Reviving an old thread time! I find myself with a birthday gift card to Penzey's, so I might swing by the Falls Church branch tomorrow. Any tips on new/old good spice blends or spices or anything? It's been a while since I've been in a Penzey's and they seem to have stopped sending me catalogs, so I'm up for any suggestions!